a Representative and a Senator from Delaware; graduated from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) in 1788; studied law; was admitted to the bar in New Castle, Del., in 1792 and commenced the practice of law; member, State house of representatives 1799; elected as a Federalist to the Tenth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of James M. Broom; reelected to the Eleventh Congress, and served from October 6, 1807, to March 3, 1811; member, State senate 1815-1816; elected as a Federalist to the United States Senate in 1817; reelected in 1823, and served from March 4, 1817, until his death; chairman, Committee on Pensions (Sixteenth Congress)